Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of cattle and buffalo in kashmir valley, india: overall, seasonal & monthly prevalence

During the present study for two years on the epidemiology of gastro-intestinal helminths in cattle and buffalo of Kashmir Valley, a total of 18 helminths species were recorded. Nematode and trematode species were dominant helminths followed by cestode species. The overall prevalence of trematodes was found 53.96% & 49.64% in cattle & buffalo. Data on monthly incidence of helminth infection showed that higher infection of helminths occurred in the month of June, July and August. Regarding the seasonal fluctuation of helminths, trematode infection was highest (63.26%) in autumn and summer (67.80%) and lowest in winter (47.51% & 26.92%) in cattle. While as in buffaloes, the highest infection was reported in summer (44.68% & 68.51%) and lowest in winter (21.73% & 52.94%). In case of cattle the cestode infection was maximum in summer (9.58%) & winter (13.04%). While as in case of buffaloes, the highest infection was found in summer (9.25%) and in autumn (9.52%). In both hosts, the lowest prevalence was found during winter (3.54% & 5.12%); autumn (4.16%) and in spring (8.00%) respectively. The highest gastrointestinal nematode infection in cattle was reported in summer (53.84%) of first year and again in summer (70.54%) of next year. The lowest infection in both the years in case of cattle was reported in winter (39.74% & 32.62%). In buffaloes, the highest nematode infection as per the gut examination was found in spring in both the years (60.00% & 54.05%) and the lowest infection was reported in winter (34.78% & 25.49%) respectively.